* Belgium were the highest-scoring team in the group stage and also had more shots on goal, 22, than any other team

* Belgium have also made the tied-fewest tackles of any team at this World Cup. They have only made 17 tackles, tied with Group G rival England and Senegal

* Japan, who progressed to the last 16 on fair play rules, have only committed 28 fouls during the group stage, fewer than any other team

* Kevin de Bruyne and Jan Vertonghen are among five Belgian players one yellow card away from a suspension, whilst Japan have four players, including captain Makoto Hasebe, one booking away from a ban

* Belgium have gone past the last 16 on two previous occasions, reaching the quarter-finals four years ago in Brazil and the semi-finals in 1986 when they were beaten by a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina

* Japan have progressed to last 16 on three occasions but have never reached the quarter finals of the World Cup

Previous meetings: The two sides have met once before at a World Cup, when Japan co-hosted the tournament in 2002. The group stage match finished 2-2. The most recent meeting between the sides came in a friendly in November that Belgium won 1-0.

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